'Safety Is Paramount': Coventry Schools Offer Support To Students

COVENTRY, RI — In the days following the violent siege of the U.S. Capitol, students and teachers across the country are no doubt having difficult conversations about what the attack means for the nation and what they can expect going forward. In Coventry, the school system has one goal for students and teachers, regardless of the source of the trauma: make sure schools are a safe space.

"Everything we do, safety is paramount. This is the same thing," Superintendent Craig Levis told Patch. "If they feel safe, nothing else matters."

While the district did not send out any specific directives to staff in the wake of the attack, teachers were encouraged to be extra aware and really listen to students Thursday and Friday, making themselves available to answer tough questions or identify students who may need extra support.

Trauma is hardly a new experience for students, especially over the past year. From facing isolation from friends and classmates while schools were closed to worries about the coronavirus pandemic, students have spent the last year trying to navigate coming of age while standing on an ever-shifting pile of sand. Before that, repeated school shootings around the country left many worried for their safety while in school. Throughout all these challenges, Coventry's administrators, Levis in particular, have been focused on making their schools a safe, secure place where students feel comfortable learning.

"How can you focus on learning if there are these other things [bothering you]?" Levis said. "While you're never truly prepared for these situations, we are prepared to make students and staff feel as safe as possible."

When discussing the aftermath of Wednesday's attack and other traumatic events, Levis said he was reminded of the oft-repeated words of Mr. Rogers to children: when things get scary, look for the helpers. Levis said he hopes for Coventry schools to be a place filled with helpers, where students feel safe talking to their teacher or another trusted adult.

Coventry has been making trauma management a key focus in the past months, even before the coronavirus pandemic struck. By working with local organizations, the district is working to train teachers to identify and assist students in need, and remind students that school is always a safe place and helping to create a trauma-informed community.

"Our students know we love and care about them," Levis said.